Maintaining its sterling reputation for bringing cutting edge and fresh material to the Quad Cities theatre scene, The Black Box Theatre’s current offering, directed by Lora Adams, is a lesser known and Quad Cities’ premier work of Agatha Christie. The Stranger is a radio play written in 1932 and based on Christie’s short story Philomal Cottage. It’s billed as an intimate psychological thriller. Indeed.
The plot revolves around Edith Bradshaw who is on the cusp of marriage to her 7-year long fiancée, Dick Lane. Edith is experiencing reservations about going through with the nuptials. Their relationship is “comfortable” and unexciting. She loves Dick but isn’t sure she’s in love with him and her vulnerability makes her the perfect target for the scintillating and enigmatic Gerald Strange.
She and Gerald meet when he comes to inspect Edith’s apartment which she is planning on subletting subsequent to her marriage. Gerald is brash and intriguing – the exact opposite of the staid and tedious Dick. Throwing caution to the wind, Edith agrees to meet Gerald for dinner and when Dick arrives for a reunion after a long absence Edith gives him the old heave ho and against all logic impulsively marries Gerald.
She and Gerald then move to a cottage in a remote location – purchased with Edith’s recent and unexpected inheritance – where dark secrets emerge sparking nervous apprehension in the naive bride. Sensing her anxiety Gerald’s demeanor takes a sudden and sinister turn and...that’s where I’ll leave it. No spoilers here.
Assuming the role of Edith is Storm Marie Baca who delivers an unsuspecting and wide-eyed innocence to the role. As the sly and shrewdly menacing Gerald is Cole McFarren. Lending a very subtle hint to what’s ahead is Dee Canfield as Mrs. Birch, the newlyweds domestic.
Last year BBT performed three of Christie’s radio plays and, if my memory serves, BBT is able to recycle that slick set with the addition of some very authentic looking reproductions of BBC microphones fashioned for this show by Doug Kutzli. It’s little details like that which turn good sets to excellent sets.
So, all of you Agatha Christie fans have the unique opportunity to be among the first to see this hidden treasure of a thriller.
The Stranger continues at The Black Box Theatre, 1623 5th Avenue in Moline, March 20, 21, and 22 at 7:30 p.m.
I’m Chris Hicks…break a leg.